Thread by @kavitapmd

2/15: Federal Xchange open for a special enrollment period-in most states you have until May 15 to try and get health care-many will qualify for subsidies including millions being able to have fully subsidized health insurance. Important first step but more needs to be done (1/n)

Paul Starr describes what we are in as a policy trap-referring to the "creation of a costly, inefficient system of health insurance that satisfies enough individuals and powerful stakeholders to neutralize an effective constituency for change" h/t Dr. Mical Raz (2/n)

Employer sponsored insurance is the trap with costs disguised as premiums subsidized by taxpayers and lost wages. Yet we (incl me) are tethered to this and it is seen as a reward for hard work also furthering the notion of individual responsibility (3/n)

So why does this matter?Covid has resulted in tremendous job losses, with lagging employer sponsored insurance losses, likely due to the time lag with COBRA as well as the growing no of employers who didn't offer health insurance. (4/n)

The special enrollment period was necessary but not sufficient. Read this incredible paper in @JAMA_current where Dr. Raz describes a likely political nonstarter but hey lets dream big- expand medicaid to all newly uninsured or unemployed people. jamanetwork.com/channels/healt… (5/n)

This approach would be more cost effective than subsidizing COBRA premiums but this will no doubt be a nonstarter with GOP and most insurance plans. But hey go big or go home as they say and well, I dont know about you but I am tired of being home. (fin)